Shaker conveyer system



0d. 10, 1950 E. R, BERGMANN 2,524,752

SHAKER CONVEYER SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Apr-i1 2Q, 1948 4 Trop/var Oct. 10, 1950 E.. R. 'BERGMANN 2,524,752

SHAKER oNvEYER SYSTEM Filedlprfl 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f' INVENTOR.

@mi R. ergnuum/ A rToRA/E Y Patented Oct. 10, 1950 SHAKER coNvEYEn SYSTEM Ernst R. Bergmann, `Chicagmlll., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 20, 1948, Serial No. 22,224

This invention relates to improvements in shaker conveyor systems and has principal reference to latching or locking meansfor ball frames supporting the reciprocating conveyor trough sections of such systems. v

Shaker conveyor systems for transporting material in mines generally employ trough sections connected in overlapping or abutting relationship, such connected trough sections being supported for reciprocating movement upon What are commonly termed ball frames. The supporting ball frames each consist of a stationary portion resting on the mine floor, and are generally held rmly in place by jacks or struts which bear against the mine roof, and also of a movable portion torwhich the trough sections are connected and supported, provision being made in such ball frames for free movement of the movable portion with respect to the stationary portion by means of balls which ride in races or guideways formed in each portion.

Such ball frames of the prior art have been open to the objection that upon removal from such shaker conveyor Systems the frames were not stable for convenient handling and oftentimes injuries were caused to workmen. In an effort to prevent such unintended movement of the ball frames, locking pins had sometimes been provided 16 Claims. (Cl. 198-22-0) which passed through both portions of the frame.

Such pins had, perforce, to be removed when the frame was placed in the shaker conveyor system else damage would be caused to the system by the failure of the ball frame to reciprocate freely. Obviously, such pins were also easily lost or misplaced, thus rendering the ball frames unstable during handling. f Y

With the foregoing considerations in mind it is a principal object of the inventionv to enable a ball frame for a yshaker conveyor to .be transported or handled in a locked or stable condition, such a frame being characterized by being immediately ready for reciprocating4 movement as Soon as the shaker trough sections are supported by the frame, such readiness for operation being possible with no necessity for using pins or other locking devices prior to such operation.

Another object isV to enable a ball frame for a shaker conveyor to be readily handled in locked condition prior to placing on a mine oor, such locked condition being maintained until the trough pans are supported on the ball frame,` the ball frame being thereupon unlocked or released for free reciprocating movement of the shaker troughs.

. Yet another object comprehends the provision of a simple latch for a ball frame which holds the frame in a stable condition for transport or handlingbut which will automatically release the shaker trough pans as soon as they are supported on the frame so that the pans may freely reciprocate on the support.

Other objects of the'invention will be apparent from a study of the description herein taken together with the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment which the invention may assume in practice. While the invention is described in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, its scope is not intended to be limited by the embodiment shown nor otherwise than by the claims appended.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation view of a portion of a shaker conveyor system showing the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation View, but showing a pair of shaker pan troughs in position;

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure l, and showing certain details in vertical section;

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the ball frame shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, inclusive; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of a pivot for the latch shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a pair of shaker conveyor trough pans II and I2 connected in abutting relationship. Each trough pan is of the usual construction and has a at bottom I3 and outwardly inclined flared sides I4, the end of the trough pan I I being provided with a stiifener I6, and the trough pan I2 being provided with a stiiener I'I, the placement of the stiffeners being such that the stiffener I6 is in underlapping relationship with the trough pan I2.

The troughs II and i2 are supported for reciprocating movement on a ball frame indicated generallyatv I8, Such a ball frame I8 consisting of a stationary portion Iacomprising spaced guideways 2i which are welded at the ends` thereof to angle members '22 which in turn are welded to crossv members or ties 23. The ends of the ties or cross members 23 `may preferably be provided with feet 2,4 having cleats 25 which are adapted to grip a mine'iioor. As Shown in Figures 3 and 4 the cross members 23 may be firmly held to the mine floor by means of jacks or struts 21 which extend upwardly and bear against the mine roof,

3 and which fit into depressions 25 in the ends of the ties 23.

The spaced guideways 2| of the stationary frame portion I9 cooperate with similarly spaced guideways 23 of a movable frame portion '29, the guideways 23 being held together along their length by means of a plate 3| and gusset plates 32 welded thereto and also welded together, see particularly Figures 4 and 6. The guideways 2l and 28 have rolling therein a plurality of balls 33 in a manner well known to the art.

The movable frame portion 29 is adapted to support the shaker trough pans II and I2 by means of a pair of standards 34 situate at each end of a stiffener channel 35 which is welded to the plate 3 I. The standards 34 cooperate with a pair of ears 31 which are pin connected thereto as at 38, and the ears 31 are each provided with an aperture 39 to receive a boss or pin 4| formed in a connector member 42 secured to the end of the trough pan II on each side thereof in any convenient manner, as by welding, see Figures 2 and 5. The shaker pan I2 is also provided with a connector member 43 on each side thereof which has a recess 44 milled in the end thereof contiguous to the ear 31 so that the shaker pan I2 may be rested upon the end of the pin or boss 4I which protrudes through the aperture 39 formed in the ear 31.

The pans II and I2, which as described thus `far are adapted to be supported on the movable frame portion 29, are also adapted to be connected together by means of a C-clamp 46, see particularly Figure 5, having spherical surface 41 adapt- `e"d to cooperate with a similar spherical surface formed on the connector member 43 to provide `a hook end for the C-clamp 46 which is also provided with a similar spherical surface 49 cooperating with a spherical surface I in the connector member 42, as more fully described in Hagenbook Patent No. 2,344,300, Shaker Con- .veyor Trough Connecting Means, issued March 14, 1944. The C-clamp 45 is adapted detachably to hold the shaker pans II and I2 together, and to this end for such attachment the C-clamp 45 has cooperating therewith a T-headed boltk 52 which passes through an aperture 53 formed in the connector 42, see also Figure l, but arms of the T being adapted to span the aperture 53. The clamp 46 is adapted to draw the connector members 42 and 43 rmly together by means of 'a coil spring 54 surrounding the bolt 52 and a nut 56 in a manner well known to the art.

` As has been pointed out hereinabove, the ball frames of the prior art have been characterized by instability when being transported from one place to another, that is to say, the movable frame portion 29 was capable of unrestrained movement with respect to the stationary frame portion I9 in such transport. Further, the lining up of the shaker pan troughs with the ball frame was a difficult process because of such instability even after the frame was placed on the mine floor. Thus, diflculty was encountered in liningr up the pins 4I with the apertures 39, and as has been pointed out such instability was oftentimes accompanied by time and labor consuming accidents to those attempting to place .a conveyor system into operation. In order to obviate the diniculties heretofore encountered, means are provided to maintain the movable frame portion 29 in fixed relationship to the stationary frame portion I3, preferably until both shaker pans I I and I2 are supported upon the movable frame portion 29. To this end the movable frame portion Cil 29 is provided with a latch indicated generally by the ordinal 51 which is pivotally connected to the movable frame portion 29 of the ball frame I8, see Figure 7, a pin 58 being provided for such pivoted connections which passes through legs 59 of a substantially U-shaped flange welded to the plate 3|. The latch 51 also consists of a member GI which is adapted to straddle the tie 23, as shown in Figure 6, spring means being provided to urge the latch 51 to a position whereby the member 6I engages the tie 23 at times when the ball frame I8 is being transported from one place to another, or when shaker pan II only is being supported by the ball frame I8. The spring means for maintaining the latch 51 in position as shown in Figure 6 consists of a leaf spring 62, one end of which is inserted into an opening 63 formed in one flange of the stiifener channel 3S, see also Figures l, 2 and 4, one end of the spring abuttingv the interior of the stiffener channel 36 as at 54, the other end of the spring 62 being notched as at 66 to straddle the latch 51, the bottom of the notch '66 being adapted to nt into a notch 61 formed in the latch 51.

The latch 51 also includes an operator or member 68 adapted to be engaged by the stiffener member I1 of the trough pan I2 when the trough pan I2 is supported upon the pin 4I at the connector member 43. In so doing the latch 51 is rocked about the pivot 58 thus disengaging the member 6I from the tie 23, thereby causing the trough pan sections II and I2 to be capable of free reciprocating movement with the movable ball frame portion 29. In moving to the position shown in Figure 2 by the placing of the trough pan I2 upon the movable frame support 29, the leaf spring 62 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2, thereby imposing a strain thereon, and it will be apparent that upon the removal of the trough I2 from its support at the pin 38 that the latch 51 will be immediately caused to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 2 so that the member 5I once more straddles the tie 23 to maintain the ball frame I8 in locked condition.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that by the present invention a lball frame of a shaker conveyor system may be instantly placed in condition for being readily transported, and upon being subsequently relocated being placed in condition for free reciprocating movement of the movable portion of the ball frame as soon as the shaker troughs are put into place. It should be noted here that when the expression ball frame is used in this specification such expression is intended to embrace any kind of a supporting frame for the shaker trough sections of a shaker conveyor system where such support frame comprises a stationary portion and a movablel frame portion adapted to support the shaker conveyor trough pans for reciprocating movement with respect to such stationary portion.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement ofthe various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore,l I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a ball frame for supporting trough pans of a shaker conveyor system, a stationary frame portion, a moving frame portion supporting said trough pans for reciprocating movement, and means for locking said moving frame portion in a xed position with respect to said stationary frame portion except when said trough pans are supported on said moving frame portion, said moving frame and stationary frame portions being characterized by bein'gheld together for portability as a unit when not supporting said trough pans and being incapable of relative reciprocatory movement during such portability. v

2. In a ball frame for supporting trough, pans of a shaker conveyor system, a stationary frame portion, a moving frame portion supporting said trough p-ans for reciprocating movement, and latch means for locking said moving frame portion in a fixed position with respect to said stationary frame portion except when said trough pans are supported on said moving frame portion,

vsaid moving frame and stationary frame portions being characterized by being held together for portability as a unit when notsupporting said trough pans and being incapable of relative reciprocatory movement duringsuch portability.

3. In a ball frame for supporting trough pans of a shaker conveyor system, a stationary frame portion, a moving frame portion mounted on said stationary frame portion andk supporting said trough pans for reciprocating movement, and means for locking'said moving frame portion in a xed position with respect to said stationary frame portion except when said trough pans are supported on said moving frame portion, said moving frame and stationary frame portions be ing characterized by being held together for portability as a unit whennot supporting said trough pans. and being incapable of relative reciprocatory movement during such portability.

4. In a ball frame forsupporting trough' pans trough pans and being incapable of relativereciprocatory movement during such portability.

5. In a ball frame for supporting trough pans of a shaker conveyor systema' stationary frame portion, Va moving frame portion mounted on said stationary frame portion and supporting said trough pans for reciprocating movement, and

vlatch means for looking said stationary frame portion and said moving frame portion against movement r'elativeto each other comprising -a locking member engaging said stationary frame portion and a second member adapted to be'engaged by a trough pan supported on said moving frame portion, said last-named member being operable to release said locking member for movement of said stationary frame portion and said moving frame portion vrelative to each other.

6. In a ball frame for supporting trough pans of a shaker conveyor system, a stationary frame portion, a moving frame portion mounted on said stationary frame portion and supporting said trough pans for reciprocating movement, and latch means for locking said stationary frame portion and said moving frame portion against movement relative to each other, said latch means being pivotally connected to said moving frame Y 8 portion andY including a locking member engageable with said stationary frame portion,` and a second member adapted to be engaged by a trough p an supported on said moving frame portion to rock said locking member about said pivoted connection to release said moving frame portion for movement relative to said stationary frame portion. f

7. In a ball frame for supporting trough pans of a shaker conveyor system, a stationary frame portion, a moving frame portion mounted on said Vstationary' frame portion and supporting said trough pans for reciprocating movement, latch means for locking said stationary frame portion and said moving frame portion against movement relative to each other comprising a member engaging said stationary frame portion, and a second member adapted to be engaged by a trough pan supported on said moving frame portion, said last-named member being operable to release said first-named member for movement of said stau tionary frame portion and said moving frame portion relative to each other, and resilient means lfor urging said latch means to a position Whereby said moving frame portion and said stationary frame portion are locked against movement with respect to each other upon removal of a trough pan from support by said moving frame portion. 8. In a ball frame for supporting trough pans of a shaker conveyor system,v a stationary frame portion, a moving frame portion lmounted on said stationary frame portion andk supporting said trough p-ans for reciprocating movement, latch meansvor locking said stationary frame portion and said movingframe portion against movement relative to each other, said latch Vmeans having 'a pivoted connection with said moving portion and including a locking member engaging said 'stationary frame portion, and a second member adapted to be engaged by a trough pan supported on said moving frame portion to rock said locking member about said pivoted connection to release said moving frame portion for movement relative to said stationary frame portion, and re- V silient means for urging said latch means to a position whereby said moving frame portion and Isaid stationary frame portion are locked against movement with respect to each other upon removal of va trough pan from support by said moving frame portion. i 9. In a ball frame for supporting trough pans of 'a shaker conveyor system, a stationary frame portion comprising spaced guideways and a tie connecting said spaced guideways, a moving frame portion havingcorrespondingly spaced guideways adapted to cooperate with the spaced guideways of said stationary frame portion, and a latch having a pvoted connection With said moving frame portion and provided with a catch adapted to engage said tie, said latch being provided with a latch operator adapted to rock the latch about said pivoted connection when a trough pan is mounted on said movable frame portion whereby said moving frame portion may move relatively to said stationary frame portion.

10. In a ball frame for supporting trough pans of a shaker conveyor system, a stationary frame portion comprising spacedY guideways and a tie connecting said spaced guideways, a moving frame portion having correspondingly spaced guideways adapted to cooperate with the spaced guideways of said stationary frame portion, and

a latch having a pivoted connection with said I moving frame portion and provided with a catch adapted to engage said tie, said latch being provided witha latch operator adapted to rock the latch. about said pivoted connection when a trough pan is mounted on said movable frame portion whereby said moving frame portion may move relatively to said stationary frame portion, and resilient means for rocking said latch in a direction to lock the moving frame portion against movement with respect to said stationary frame portion upon removal of a trough pan from said moving frame portion.

11. The combination with a mechanical shaker conveyor system of a ball frame for supporting shaker trough pans for reciprocating movement, the ball frame comprising a stationary frame portion and a moving frame portion adapted to move with respect to said stationary frame portion, and means for locking said moving frame portion in a iiXed position with respect to said stationary frame portion except when said shaker trough pans are supported by said ball frame, said moving frame and stationary frame portions being characterized by being held together for portability as a unit when not supporting said trough pans and being incapable of relative reciprocatory movement during such portability.

12. The combination with a mechanical shaker conveyor system of a ball ramefor supporting shaker trough pans for reciprocating movement, the ball frame comprising a stationary frame portion and a moving frame portion adapted to move with respect to said stationary frame portion, and latch means for locking said movable frame portion against movement with respect to said stationary frame portion comprising a member engaging said stationary frame portion and a second member adapted to be engaged by a trough pan supported by said ball frame, said latch means being adapted to release said movable frame portio-n for movement with respect to said stationary frame portion when a trough pan is supported by said ball frame.

13. The combination with a mechanicalshaker conveyor system of a ball frame for supporting shaker trough pans for reciprocating movement, the ball frame comprising a stationary frame portion and a moving frame portion adapted to move with respect to said stationary frame portion, and latch means for locking said movable frame portion against movement with respect to said stationary frame portion comprising a member engaging said stationary frame portion and a second member adapted to be engaged byla trough pan supported by said -ball frame, said latch means being adapted to release said movable frame portion for movement with respect to said stationary frame portion when a trough pan is supported by said ball frame, and resilient means for urging said first-named member to engage said stationary frame portion upon removal of a trough pan to prevent movement of said movable frame portion with respect to said stationary frame portion.

14. The combination with a mechanical shaker conveyor system of a ball frame for supporting shaker trough pans for reciprocating movement, the ball frame comprising a stationary frame portion having spaced guideways thereon, a tie for maintaining said guideways in spaced relationship, a movable frame portion having spaced guideways adapted to cooperate with the guideways of said stationary frame portion, and a latch having a pivoted connection t0 said moving frame portion and provided with a catch adapted to engage said tie, said latch including a latch operator adapted to vrock the latch about said pivoted connection when a trough pan is mounted on said movable frame portion, whereby the movable frame portion is freed for reciprocating movement.

15. The combination with a mechanical shaker conveyor system of a ball frame for supporting shaker trough pans provided with connecting means for unitary reciprocating movement, the ball frame comprising a stationary frame portion and a moving frame portion adapted to move with respect to said stationary frame portion, and means for locking said moving frame portion in a iixed position with respect to said stationary frame portion except when said shaker trough pans are supported by said 'ball frame, said moving frame and stationary frame portions being characterized by being held together for portability as a unit when not supporting said trough pans and being incapable of relative reciprocatory movement during such portability.

16. The combination with a mechanical shaker conveyor system of a ball frame for supporting shaker trough pans having connecting means for unitary reciprocating movement, the ball .frame comprising a stationary frame portion and a moving frame portion adapted to move with respect to said stationary frame portion, and latch means for locking said movable frame portion against movement with respect to said stationary frame portion comprising a member engaging said stationary frame portion and a second member adapted to be engaged by a trough pan supported by said ball frame, said latch means being adapted to release said movable frame portion for movement with respect to said stationary frame portion when a trough pan is supported by said ball frame.

ERNST R. BERGMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,735,137 Sklenar Nov. 12, 1929 2,344,300 Hagenbook Mar. 14, 1944 

